Cleaner approach to fine coal flotation by renewable collectors prepared by waste oil transesterification

In order to realize the cleaner flotation production of fine coal, renewable collector was prepared by transesterification of waste oil in kitchen waste, which can be used as alternatives to traditional collectors. The functional groups and components of renewable collectors were analyzed by FT-IR and GC-MS respectively. Further, the flotation effect of the synthesized collector on fine coal was verified by laboratory flotation test, and the adsorption of the collector on the coal surface was analyzed by XPS. Results of FT-IR showed that the renewable collector contains the functional groups of –CH3, –CH2, CO, and C–O bonds. The GC-MS results showed that small molecules were produced through transesterification of crude oils, which proved that the carbon chain was interrupted. The adsorption analysis showed that the collector can be adsorbed effectively and enhance the particle hydrophobicity. In addition, the flotation experiment results showed that the fine coal could be effectively cleaned through the application of renewable collector, and the low temperature resistance of the collector has also been verified. The study proves that the renewable collector prepared by transesterification of waste oil can reduce the dependence on traditional collectors, which promotes the cleanness of fine coal flotation process.